PHYS40422: Applied Nuclear Physics
Paul Campbell
Room 4.11
Paul.Campbell-3@manchester.ac.uk
1. Interaction of Radiation with Matter
2. Radiation Detection
3. Biological Effects of Radiation
4. Applications of Nuclear Techniques
5. Nuclear Fission
6. Nuclear Fusion
http://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk/staff/Paul.Campbell-3/phys40422.htm
Recommended Texts:
Introductory Nuclear Physics by Krane.
Nuclear Physics, Principles and Applications by Lilley.
Radiation Detection and Measurement by Knoll
Everything you want to know about detectors!
1896: Radioactivity
1912: The atomic nucleus
1932: The neutron
Becquerel in Paris
Geiger, Marsden, Rutherford in Manchester
Chadwick in Cambridge
1945: The atomic bomb
Hiroshima, August 6th 8.15am
The study and understanding of Nuclear Physics has developed, not only
as an interesting and exciting field of science; but also in a way that
impinges on the lives of all human beings.
In this lecture course we shall discuss the ways in which nuclear processes
affect us and the environment; and how they can be exploited to the
benefit of humans.
We shall be considering the negative and positive aspects.
Over a period of about half a century, humans have been able to use
nuclear processes to produce immense power output; we have been able to
create artificial radioactivity.
We grapple with the social, physiological and moral consequences of this
ability. There are many diverse opinions (rather infrequently supported by
scientific fact).
I hope by taking this course you will gain the scientific knowledge to
contribute to a rational debate on the problems and to form your own
judgements based on science.
Sub-atomic Physics
Nuclear Physics
many-body systems
n-p interactions
Fundamental
interactions
Quarks and gluons
substructures of particles
Particle Physics
Sub-atomic Physics
Nuclear Physics
many-body systems
DETECTORS
n-p interactions
Fundamental
interactions
Quarks and gluons
substructures of particles
Particle Physics
DETECTORS
Sub-atomic Physics
Nuclear Physics
many-body systems
DETECTORS
n-p interactions
Interaction of
Fundamental
radiation with
interactions
matter
Quarks and gluons
substructures of particles
Particle Physics
DETECTORS
DETECTORS
Interaction of
Biological effects
radiation with
matter
DETECTORS
DETECTORS
Interaction of
Biological effects
radiation with
matter
Medical
applications
DETECTORS
Radiation
DETECTORS
protection
Interaction of
Biological effects
radiation with
matter
Medical
applications
DETECTORS
Radiation
DETECTORS
protection
Interaction of
Biological effects
radiation with
matter
Medical
DETECTORS
applications
Industrial applications
Nuclear Physics
Many different types
Nuclear reactions
Fusion
Fission
Interaction of
Interesting Nuclear Physics
Power production
weapons
radiation with
matter
Nuclear Physics
NMR, laser spect.,
Mass spectroscopy
Many different types
Nuclear reactions
Fusion
Fission
Interaction of
Interesting Nuclear Physics
Power production
weapons
radiation with
matter
Binding energy per nucleon
Low energy reactions: Mass number A is conserved :
Fusion of light nuclei, and fission of heavy nuclei, are exothermic
Binding energy per nucleon
http://www-nds.iaea.org/relnsd/vchart/index.html
Low energy reactions: Mass number A is conserved :
Fusion of light nuclei, and fission of heavy nuclei, are exothermic
Recap of some basic Nuclear Physics
1) To first approximation neutrons and protons pack like hard spheres
which means that the nuclear volume is proportional to the number of particles
in the nucleus
(wavefunctions)
2) The nuclear radius is proportional to A1/3
3) Bound nuclei exist which are either stable or decay radioactively
4) The binding energy per nucleon (~8 MeV/A) peaks near iron (Z=26)
5) Energy is released when light nuclei fuse and heavy nuclei fission
Proton number
The Chart of the Nuclides
Neutron number
Proton number
The Chart of the Nuclides: some terminology
Isotones:
Different proton
number but same
neutron number
Isobars:
Same nucleon
number, A
A=N+Z is constant
Isotopes:
Different neutron number but
same proton number (same
element, same chemistry)
Neutron number
Binding Energy: Semi-Empirical Mass Formula
In summary:
1) There are a limited number of stable nuclei
2) Away from the valley of stability, unstable nuclei exist and can emit:
electrons and positrons (beta decay)
gamma rays
alpha particles
protons
fission fragments (which then emit neutrons)
3) We need to detect and measure these emissions
4) We need to protect ourselves against the biological effects
5) We can make use of nuclear particles and gamma rays for positive purposes